Decatur Robbery, Battery Incidents Reported May Be Connected

According to Decatur police, a pair of incidents reported earlier this week could be connected.

Decatur Police Sgt. Jennifer Ross reports that around 5 p.m. on March 17, Decatur police responded to a simple battery in the area of South Candler Street and Midway Road.

The 16-year-old complainant reported she and her 12-year-old brother were walking on South Candler when an unknown male walking past them, reached and grabbed her arm and stated, “I need to use your phone.” He repeatedly asked for the phone, but made no threats and did not try to take the phone.

The complainant and her brother continued home and called police. The suspect was described as a black male, approximately 20 years old, standing approximately 5-foot-10, with light complexion, short hair, lean build, and wearing a bright red hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and a black belt with a metal buckle.

According to Ross, about an hour later, Decatur police responded to a robbery in the 100 block of Sycamore Street. The adult victim reported she was standing in front of a restaurant on the downtown square talking on her cell phone when her phone was snatched out of her hand by an unknown male. The man then fled toward the Decatur MARTA station entrance in the 400 block Church Street. 

The suspect was described as a black male, standing approximately six feet tall, and wearing a red hooded sweatshirt.